Paid in Change: The 2022 Halftime Show Celebrated Black Performers- But did it Pay Them?
Image Courtesy: Sporting News
Superbowl 56 welcomed five iconic performers to the stage during half time, along with over 100 dancers, and even more field performers. This show was an iconic, throwback filled performance that showcased Black performers, and the messages did not go unheard.
Twitter users instantly responded to the increased representation and messages from white performer Eminem.
Image Courtesy: @michaelharriot on Twitter
Writer Michael Harriot takes a sarcastic stab at NFL history with his tweet, pointing out the discrepancies he noticed.
Image Courtesy: @SylviaObell on Twitter
Writer Sylvia Obell acknowledged Eminem, who was rumored to have been told by the NFL to not take a knee as he did, although the NFL denied this notion. Eminem began his performance kneeling just as Colin Kapernick did in 2016.
And although many felt seen, heard, and represented through this impactful performance, it was not easy to pull together the diverse and talented cast. A few days before the Super Bowl, Instagram posts from performer Taja Riley brought attention to field performers being asked to volunteer their time and effort to one of the highest grossing sporting events on the globe.
After much outrage and protest, the dancers were offered California minimum wage- of just $15.00 per hour. With high expectations of being on call 24/7 leading up to the event, this seemed wildly unfair to social media activists.
We know the commercials during the Super Bowl to be the Grand Central Station of advertising, but what about the Halftime Show? For many field performers, this is an opportunity to gain exposure in their industry, and they will not be able to continue taking these jobs if they are unpaid.
While the highly anticipated show gave 5 legends a platform, it is essential to consider every performer involved, as oftentimes they can be overlooked and in this case, even exploited. We must ensure that talent and representation continue with just compensation.
Strike Out,
Jordan Ross
Athens